The Longines Masters of New York- Unlike Any Other

April 29, 2018

BY INTERN ANNIE BIRMINGHAM

The first Longines Masters of New York (which began on April 26th and runs until April 29th) at the NYCB Live Center, just outside of New York City, has thus far been perceived as a huge success. Boasting an array of classes ranging from 1.10 to 1.50m with world-class competitors in addition to world class shopping, dining, and entertainment, the venue truly offers something for everyone. Here are just a few of the things that make the Longines Masters of New York so special.

The Prestige Village
Where else can you shop Hermes, LA Saddlery, Sam Edelman, and more while your favorite riders warm up a mere ten feet away? The unique setup of the Prestige Village allows spectators and competitors alike to shop, dine, and enjoy the live music all within sight of the world’s top ranking riders in the schooling ring.

A horse and rider warm up in the Prestige Village schooling area, in between rows of vendors and dining options. Photo courtesy of the Longines Masters.

The Microphones
An interesting feature of the show ring at the Longines Masters of New York is that the base of each jump is equipped with a microphone system. Spectators are able to not just see but hear each aspect of the competition on both the takeoff and landing side, of every jump, bringing them that much closer to the action.

The Lights and Music
The NYCB Live is home to an incredible light show system, and the Longines Masters of New York is most definitely taking advantage of the amenity. In between classes and course walks, the light shows begin, paired with equally exciting music to pump up both spectators and competitors. Additionally, after each clear round, a ten-second-victory song (along with it’s own horse-friendly mini light show) echoes throughout the coliseum.

The Team USA red light show prior to Saturday night’s Rider’s Cup Challenge.

The Footing
All of the rings for The Longines Masters of New York were created especially for this event, with the main competition ring located in the usual spot of the Islander hockey team’s rink. The footing was brought in by LMNY sponsor Footing First, which works closely with top professionals such as McLain Ward to provide the top quality footing for equine athletes. The specialized footing for this event is a silicon type mixture that is completely dust free, requiring no water break while providing superior traction and comfort.

Samantha Wight and Edison competing in Thursday’s CSI2* class on the custom footing from Footing First. Photo courtesy of Sportfot and the Longines Masters.

The Crowd
The spectators themselves play a huge role in what makes attending an event such as the Longines Masters of New York so enjoyable. With packed grandstands cheering every rider on, no other event can compare to the energy that cheers on the competition!

While there are countless reasons that the Longines Masters of New York is a must-have on your horse show bucket list, these are just a handful of what stands out and makes the event unique. While the competition will be coming to a close shortly, the final Grand Prix live stream will be available here, and the planning for next years Longines Masters of New York is already underway!

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